Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday, marking a significant step amid escalating regional tensions following attacks on Gulf states by Iran and retaliatory actions by the US and Israel. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, leading a high-level delegation, is already in Saudi Arabia ahead of the anticipated signing.
This pact aims to solidify a growing alliance among major Muslim powers aligned with the United States, though specific commitments from each country and the agreement’s impact on the broader Middle East crisis remain unclear. Confirmation of the signing came from a Turkish official, while it is uncertain if the deal will be publicly announced immediately.
The three nations share deep concerns over the ongoing instability in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and an increasingly assertive Israel, as the US works to manage regional threats. Turkey commands NATO’s second-largest military, Saudi Arabia is the dominant Gulf power with Islam’s holiest sites and vast oil reserves, and Pakistan stands as the only nuclear-armed Muslim country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Army Chief Syed Asim Munir, arrived in Jeddah on Thursday and performed Umrah in Mecca. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan departed for Jeddah on Friday to join the proceedings. Sharif has already met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose country has faced repeated attacks from Iran, its Houthi allies in Yemen, and Shia militias in Iraq since the conflict began on February 28.
The ongoing war has exposed vulnerabilities in Gulf security and disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. The planned pact follows nearly a year of negotiations, during which Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan advocated for a broader regional security framework to enhance cooperation and stability.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan already maintain a defence agreement stipulating that an attack on one is considered an attack on both, encompassing all military means. However, Pakistan has generally avoided direct military involvement in the Iran conflict, instead attempting to mediate with Tehran. While the Pakistani military and government have not issued immediate comments, the foreign ministry described the visit as an effort to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia. Army Chief Munir plays a key role in shaping Pakistan’s foreign and security policies. Saudi authorities have not responded to requests for comment.
This new pact builds on longstanding military cooperation between the three countries. The Middle East has been engulfed in conflict since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with nearly every regional country experiencing cross-border attacks or missile and drone strikes. Although Turkey and Pakistan, located on the Middle East’s periphery, have largely avoided direct assaults, both are eager to stabilize the region to protect their security and economic interests.
Saudi Arabia has borne the brunt of the conflict’s consequences, facing threats from multiple fronts that jeopardize its oil exports, development ambitions, and the reliability of its traditional US security guarantees. Signing the agreement in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, adds symbolic significance to a pact that enhances existing military relationships.
Pakistan has provided training and technical support to Saudi forces for decades, while Turkey and Pakistan have exchanged warships and training aircraft. In 2023, Saudi Arabia agreed to purchase Turkish drones in what was described as Ankara’s largest defence export deal. Pakistan has deployed approximately 8,000 troops, fighter jets, drones, and an air-defence system to Saudi Arabia and is pursuing broader Gulf security partnerships.
Additionally, Pakistan is negotiating with Kuwait for an expanded security pact linked to energy cooperation and investment. This trilateral agreement in Mecca represents a strategic effort by these Muslim-majority nations to bolster their collective defence amid a volatile regional landscape.
